Antiviral compositions and methods

Abstract

Compositions containing 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, and dideoxyguanosine and their triphosphates for use in treating retroviral infections including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are disclosed with preferred methods of treatment which provide protection against cytopathic effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating the cytopathic destructive effects of a retroviral disease in a host infected with a retrovirus comprising administering to said host an effective amount of an antiviral composition comprising an effective amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine, and salts and esters thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier is suitable for intracellular administration. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the compound is 2',3'-dideoxyinosine triphosphate and the carrier is a liposome. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier is suitable for oral administration and the composition has a pH ranging from 6 to 8. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier is normal saline. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 4 wherein the composition contains an acetate buffer and the pH of said composition is within the range of pH 6.8 to pH 7.2. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 wherein the pH of said composition is 7. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein the composition includes 25 mg 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine per ml of solution. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 6 wherein the compound is present in an amount of 25 mg compound per ml solution. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 5 wherein the compound is 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is 2',3'-dideoxyinosine. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is 2',3'-dideoxyguanoisine. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine. 
     
     
       14. A method of claim 1 wherein the retrovirus is HIV. 
     
     
       15. A method of claim 1 wherein the composition administered is dideoxyinosine triphosphate in a liposome. 
     
     
       16. A method of claim 1 wherein the composition is an acetate buffered dideoxyadenosine having a pH of 6.8 to 7.2. 
     
     
       17. A method of claim 1 wherein the carrier is given in saline and contains 25 mg. nucleoside to each ml. solution. 
     
     
       18. A method of claim 17 wherein the nucleoside is dideoxyadenosine. 
     
     
       19. A method of claim 1 wherein the composition is given as a continuous intravenous infusion. 
     
     
       20. A method of treating HIV infections comprising administering to a host infected with HIV an effective amount of a composition of claim 1. 
     
     
       21. A method of claim 1 wherein the route of administration is selected from the group consisting of rectal, nasal, and vaginal routes. 
     
     
       22. A method for treating HIV infection comprising administering to a host infected with HIV an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine, and 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine, and salts and esters thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.